Yes, this test is old, and PLB models are probably better now, especially since this old test had better results than an even older test . . . but nobody really knows that for sure.

SPOT and inReach often get a bad rep because their capabilities are always being tested, and the relatively few anomalies (on a % basis) generate lots of internet posts.But for PLBs, there's no readily available way to test them other than inadvertently calling out the cavalry. (Well, except for the ACR 406Link feature.)

http://www.equipped.org/406_GPS_beacon_test_2005_summary.htm

"The few anomalies experienced in this evaluation bear out the reality that even electrically operated emergency signaling devices manufactured and tested to very high quality standards may still be less than 100% reliable in the field and that it remains good practice that users should always self-test beacons prior to embarking upon any excursion or being involved in any situation where they may have to be relied upon in an emergency."

"NOAA and other government agencies involved in the operation of the COSPAS-SARSAT system should investigate the apparent anomalies experienced during these tests that could possibly be attributed to faults in the system."

"There is an obvious and urgent need for government agencies involved in operation and regulation of these beacons and the COSPAS-SARSAT system to develop a more expedient means by which real world testing of these beacons can be conducted with a minimum of bureaucratic hurdles. It should be possible for any legitimate organization representing consumer interests to schedule a test of beacons on relatively short notice. For relatively small numbers of beacons, the use of operationally coded beacons should be facilitated, as the need to use test protocol-coded beacons is a very substantial impediment to the independent testing of these beacons."

"Delay in receiving system performance data (satellite data) is detrimental to the expedient and effective testing of 406 MHz emergency beacons with the potential for devastating data loss and potential for invalidation of testing that, at best, is difficult and expensive to organize. This evaluation experienced just such a loss of irreplaceable data on one test. It should be a priority for the government agencies involved to enable testing organizations to receive immediate automated feedback, perhaps via the Internet, of the system performance during a test."

"it remains good practice that users should always self-test beacons prior to embarking upon any excursion or being involved in any situation where they may have to be relied upon in an emergency."

Isn't this SOP for PLB users? I self test mine every year at the beginning of the season for both internal function and GPS signal acquisition, and would assume most others do as well. If not, well, that's what the Darwin Award was created to recognize.

"By contrast, all that a PLB conveys to COSPAS-SARSAT is your location and registration information. Is the PLB owner in need of assistance, or another party? Does someone require immediate medical attention, or just extrication from the backcountry? How timely is the need for assistance?"

Lets see now:

A."Is the PLB owner in need of assistance, or another party?": Who cares, its an emergency for chripes sake, or should be anyway (see item C. below). Won't it be sweet when they "can't process your request because the individual needing assistance is not a member"....Corporate America will haunt you eventually.

B. "Does someone require immediate medical attention, or just extrication from the backcountry?" Again, who cares...you going to call them just because you want a ride home with no life threatening emergency?? The team that shows up is going to be equipped to handle any emergency they encounter, medical or otherwise...

This is the one that kills me.....harharhar...C. "How timely is the need for assistance?

" Hi emergency response team, this is janeybillybob your user. I was wondering if I could schedule an emergency response sometime later this afternoon? I just got bit by a rattlesnake, but I'm not sick yet, but I understand that it takes a few hours for the venom to kick in. Would 4pm work for you? Just send in a helicopter with the antivenom team and things should work for everyone.....

Give me a break dude....If its not and emergency, what in the h3ll are you doing calling for assistance? This is typical of whats coming...no one needs to think about what they are doing or being prepared. they believe they can just call for help to come save their butts.

This spring on the PCT two nimrods from NY went backpacking got wet and cold and called for help when a few more miles of walking would have them at the trailhead..? Better yet, they forgot their jackets, but instead of turning around and going back to their car, they kept going for several days until they were too wet and cold to continue....yep u guessed it they hauled out their comm link and got a bunch of folks to come "rescue" them...

Where do these people come from. Emergency crews are not your personal taxi service.

I can't help but being a smart a$$ when I read stuff like this....This technology makes everyone think there is an aid station just waiting for their call and nothing could be further from the truth...

My litmus test is that when I fire off my PLB its because I'm expecting that if someone doesn't show up in less than 24hours I am most likely going to be dead, not uncomfortable.

I am reminded of a PLB story from a couple of years ago that I related here. A backpacking group was a few days out from Rock Creek on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, so they had crossed onto the west side. One gal got very sick from altitude, and she tried to keep struggling ahead. Finally she was near collapse, so a camp was made and the group tried to support her. A runner was sent out toward the east side to get help. Meanwhile, a stranger with a Spot device was nearby. The decision was made to push the button. Once that was done, the stranger didn't feel that it was necessary for him to remain on the site, so he took off up the trail. Apparently the signal was received and there was a helicopter dispatched from the Fresno County sheriff's office to go to the transmitted GPS coordinates. However, the sheriff's office saw that the Spot location was moving up the trail. The Spot user didn't realize that once it is activated, it is locked on, and you must remain at the emergency site. When the sheriff's office saw that the Spot was moving, they assumed that it had been a false alarm, so they recalled the helicopter. As a result, no helicopter arrived. Meanwhile, the runner reached a telephone on the east side, and that call got routed to the Fresno office on the west side. They put two and two together and figured out that an emergency was still present, so they dispatched the helicopter again. A small helicopter reached the location and the sick gal was loaded into it. However, due to the size of the aircraft, there was no room for anything except the pilot, the sick gal, no equipment, and no medic.

Strangely and incidentally, the helicopter ride was short. They flew her to VVR and dropped her off with wet clothing and no gear. She had to get a vehicle ride down to Fresno from there. (bizarre!)

Now, if there had been some good two-way communications, the dispatcher could have found out the nature of the emergency and the urgency of it.

So, your comment, "The team that shows up is going to be equipped to handle any emergency they encounter, medical or otherwise..." is just a bunch of crap.

"Meanwhile, a stranger with a Spot device was nearby. The decision was made to push the button. Once that was done, the stranger didn't feel that it was necessary for him to remain on the site, so he took off up the trail."

That's why I recommend that for anybody who gets a new piece of technology that they intend to drag out to the wilderness, at least study up on it. Read the user manual and try to understand how it should function during normal operation and also how it should function during an emergency. That way, you can keep the expected result happening.

Just last week I had a situation where I sent a message via inReach SE, but it was not going out. The device stayed busy trying to send. Finally after 10-15 minutes, I realized that I was in a deep canyon with some trees overhead, so I was not sure that the satellites were overhead long enough to get the message. I moved the device about 50 yards to a cleaner location, and then the message was finished rapidly.

I don't like those long waits, because it uses up battery power trying to "hit the bird."